Members of AP Super Speciality Hospitals Association (ASHA) on Wednesday said that from tomorrow (March 7), they would stop admitting Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries in the State. Representatives of corporate hospitals said that the move comes in the wake of delayed reimbursement of medical bills by CGHS, which according to them was pending since two years.
Close to 1.8 lakh CGHS beneficiaries will feel the impact of the boycott of medical services by corporate hospitals. “CGHS has to clear bills worth Rs. 150 crore in A.P. Corporate hospitals are under immense financial pressure due to delayed payments. We are not in a position to keep treating patients from our own pockets,” general secretary, ASHA, Govind Hari said.
The decision to stop admitting CGHS beneficiaries was taken on Wednesday after a meeting of representatives from 65 private hospitals held in Hyderabad. “We have already served notices on CGHS authorities here and New Delhi about the boycott. We request officials to make arrangements for release of pending bills. Private hospitals are under immense pressure,” said Dr. Govind.
Meanwhile, when contacted, CGHS authorities disputed the amount of pending medical bills, which according to ASHA is Rs. 150 crore. “A decision on this issue has to come from CGHS, New Delhi. Moreover, we are sure that the pending bills will not be Rs. 150 crore. We are hopeful that CGHS authorities in New Delhi and private hospitals will come to a resolution by Friday,” CGHS authorities in Hyderabad said.
